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Experts at PedMD.com say the slobber can gather at the bottom of the bowl, which can breed bacteria and fungi.

And this can affect people too. Pasteurella, which is commonly found in dog drool, can actually cause skin infections in humans, although this usually only happens if it comes into contact with an open wound.

The vets said: “Theoretically, humans can be infected by these bacteria by coming in contact with the saliva from a cat or dogs lick.

“The Center for Disease Control reports that most pasteurella and bartonella infections are the result of bites and scratches.”

Every time your pet’s bowl runs empty, the expert advice is to clean it out with hot water and pet-safe detergent before refilling.